The idea of animism was developed by anthropologist Sir Edward Tylor

through his 1871 book Primitive Culture, in which he defined it as "the general doctrine of souls and other spiritual beings in general".

Where was animism created?

The concept of animism first appeared explicitly in Victorian British anthropology in Primitive Culture (1871), by Sir Edward Burnett Tylor (later published as Religion in Primitive Culture, 1958). His writings are preceded historically by those of the Greek Lucretius (c. 96–c.

What was the first religion animism?

Our results reflect Tylor's (1871) belief that animism was the earliest and most basic trait of religion because it enables humans to think in terms of supernatural beings or spirits.